Monday, October 1, 2018

Hotel Saugatuck is a Hidden Gem

 

Lynn and I enjoyed our fresh breakfast of omelets and muffins. It was delivered right to our room at Hotel Saugatuck in Michigan so we got to stay in the comfortable bathrobes a bit longer.


We wished we could stay longer, but we did decide to explore before leaving. The suites are quite big and it had a Jacuzzi tub, microwave, and small refrigerator.

We brought our luggage down to the lobby. The Inn was inviting with a fireplace and piano and the staff was friendly and helpful.

The cottages across the driveway were occupied so I didn’t get to see them, but they looked adorable from the outside.

The Michigan town of Saugatuck includes a quaint town and quiet beaches. We decided to take a drive to Oval Beach.

Lynn and I spent most of our lives on Long Island in New York so we weren’t quite sure what to expect from a Michigan beach. 




Honestly, the water was more inviting than the Atlantic Ocean, without the seaweed and waves, and with the beautiful blue color.

The other thing that you don’t usually see on Long Island is a snack bar and shop in the middle of the beach. What was the same were the people lounging and swimming, and sailboats in the background.


I sat down to rest a while Lynn walked along the beach. We had a long drive home, though, so we didn’t stay too long.

It’s no secret that I am a big fan of Michigan, especially along the Great Lakes. I wish I had more time to explore more of the towns there. There are so many great towns and beautiful beaches.

I will be back.



Sunday, September 30, 2018

Mackinac to Saugatuck



It was a beautiful morning on Mackinac Island, where my friend, Lynn, and I were staying at the Grand Hotel.

Fortunately, we weren’t in a hurry to leave and could enjoy the hotel and the island until the afternoon.

We went to the main dining room for another breakfast with just about anything you could possibly want. We were always greeted with a fresh, warm basket of baked breads and pastries.

Everything was delicious and the service spot on.

  

We took our time and packed up our room at the Grand Hotel, enjoying a little time on the balcony taking in the spectacular view for the last time.

After we checked out, we took the horse drawn carriage to downtown, where our luggage would be store while we walked around.

Downtown Mackinac Island is filled with shops for souvenirs, clothing, and fudge. I certainly couldn’t leave without taking some with me.

We decided on the Pink Pony, a well-known bar and grill, for lunch before we got on Shepler’s Ferry back to St. Ignace.



The ride was smooth and quick and we were soon in the car driving to Michigan’s lower peninsula. I had arranged for us, rather than take an eight-hour drive home, to stay over night in Saugatuck, about halfway in between.

The Hotel Saugatuck is a beautiful property on the Kalamazoo River, just a few minutes from the shoreline of Lake Michigan.

It’s a bed & breakfast with attention to luxurious details. In addition to the rooms, there are cottages across the parking lot, for a total of 18 accommodations.

The entrance to the hotel is welcoming, with a fireplace and piano. We were taken to our suite, the Blue Star Room, which had its own fireplace.


One of the specialties of this hotel is that they bring to your room a homemade “sweet treat” each night. For our stay it was blueberry mousse).

I wasn’t feeling well after a long day and decided to stay in and rest. Lynn went on her own for a drive to check out the area.

I would still have the next day to see more of Saugatuck.